Dbacks Fueled by Rookies, Clutch & Pitching Staff

May 13, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Yasmany Tomas (24) hits an RBI single in the eighth inning against the Washington Nationals at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Yasmany Tomas

Because his MLB career is in its infant stages, it’s safe to say that Tomas is going through his best stretch. Tomas’ calling card was his power, so it’s interesting to see him be a contact hitter. Interesting? Yes. Productive? More yes. We’ve speculated on his standing as a National League Rookie of the Year.

Tomas is currently on an 8-game hitting streak. Inside of that hitting streak, Tomas had multiple hits in each of six games. On Monday against Washington, Tomas went 3-for-5 with a couple of RBI. On the week, Tomas went 11-for-28 (.393) with 5 RBI. His hitting streak has been integral to his season batting average rising to .333.

May 24, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Nick Ahmed (13) slides on a triple in the third inning against the Chicago Cubs at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Nick Ahmed

To begin the season, fans had started to groan about Ahmed’s bat. Ahmed’s batting average was living in the mid-.100’s. It was more bearable because Ahmed’s defense is world class. However, Ahmed is coming off a week that might’ve changed everything. Ahmed went 9-for-20 with four runs and four RBI.

There had to be a sign that greater things were coming. On Tuesday, Ahmed went 2-for-3 and the next day he went 2-for-4 against Miami. His finest hour came on the series opener against Chicago. He smacked his first homer of the season and knocked in the game winning run in the 13th inning. Ahmed grabbed a hit in each of the five games he started this past week.

May 24, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (44) hits a two run home run in the third inning against the Chicago Cubs at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Paul Goldschmidt

America’s First Baseman is as clutch as ever. Just ask the Chicago Cubs. The series opener had required extra innings and it appeared that Chicago had taken in the 10th. (By the way, Addison Reed must’ve bought Goldy a steak to distract everyone from Reed’s scuffle in that 10th) Down by two in the bottom of the 10th, Goldy smacked a game-tying home run to extend the game a few more innings.

As we all know, the Dbacks wound up winning the game. In the rubber match of the series, Goldy’s two run long ball was the reinforcement that Arizona needed to guide them to victory. On the week, Goldy went 8-for-24 (.333) with five runs, six RBI, and a couple of stolen bases.

A.J. Pollock

Pollock has become an integral part of the Dbacks lineup. This past week, Pollock only started the game on the pine on one occasion. However, he found a way to make the biggest difference in that game as well. Pollock entered a 2-2 game against Miami on Tuesday and hit a game winning pinch hit home run.

Pollock picked right up where he left off the following night. On Wednesday against Miami, Pollock went 3-for-4 with four runs and three stolen bases. Pollock had yet another outstanding performance on Friday. He went 4-for-6 with a couple of runs and a stolen base. For the week, Pollock went 12-for-30 (.400) with 8 runs, 4 stolen bases, and 3 RBI.